Watford Ladies kicked off their 2010/11 Premier League campaign with an entertaining 4-4 drew away to Blackburn. Under a new management team the squad were ready to begin the season. With a squad that included new signings and 16 year old 1st year scholar Paige Logie being called up to the 1st team it meant a young squad had travelled to Blackburn for the first outing of this season.

The game started nervously with both sides intent on getting out of the starting blocks quickly. Equal chances matched equal defensive errors. Watford’s Davey was in fine shot stopping form as she denied the Blackburn forwards from scoring early on. This gave Watford an opportunity to take control within the first 15 minutes of the game, but with Wiltshire and Logie unable to capitalise on their early possession.

A sloppy throw-in just before the half hour was intercepted and played forward quickly by a Blackburn forward calmly who managed to slide the ball under the charging Davey. Watford had chances to equalise with Madden’s header being cleared on route to goal. Wiltshire and Rowell also had shots at goal but never really tested the keeper. Watford eventually got the equaliser in the 44th minute when Rowell played in Young, whose long range effort lobbed over the keeper and flew straight into the far corner. Score at half time was a fair 1-1 .

Second half of the game started similarly. Both teams looked to get an early lead, with defences determined to make no mistakes. Blackburn eventually took the lead again when a wide free kick had failed to be cleared by Watford’s defence and goalkeeper Davey, and the ball crept in at the back post having missed everyone. (2-1 to Blackburn) The management team made a few changes with Miles coming on to replace Adams, and Gunn on to replace Madden. Fresh legs allowed Watford to take control again until a mistake in the middle of the park allowed Blackburn’s centre midfielder to intercept the ball and travel un opposed to make it 3-1 to Blackburn.

Watford pushed forward and pinned Blackburn into their own half for a good part of the half to try and bring them back into the game. Their reward came when a corner delivered by Rowell was met with power and direction from Daniels straight into the roof of the net (3-2). This energised the hornets to push for an equaliser, and within minutes Watford were awarded a penalty. Rowell played in Logie, but with the pass over hit, the experienced Blackburn centre half looked to have shielded the ball out for a goal kick until Logie managed to get around the centre back, slotting the ball back for Rowell whose shot struck the arm of a Blackburn defender and a penalty was taken calmly by Rowell who slotted the ball into the top corner for the equaliser (3-3) .

The hornets took the lead for the 1st time when again Rowell’s quick feet turned 3 Blackburn players inside out before slotting in Wiltshire who’s pace and desire took her into the box and calmly curled the ball round the stranded keeper.(3-4) Both teams were ending the game strongly with Watford having 2 more chances to really put the game beyond Blackburn, but a mistake in between the Watford defence and keeper allowed Blackburn to head home a last minute equaliser. (4-4) Manager Neil Hart and his assistant Sam Perrin wanted all 3 points but felt a point away from home was well deserved. Perrin said after the game “The ladies have done well, to come all this way on a coach to Blackburn and play at there maximum for 90 minutes is hard, not just for us but for any team. There are areas to improve and areas in which we need to keep strong. This game has given new manager Neil a good look at his team and its capabilities. Rowell and Logie impressed on their 1st competitive game for the club and all the new girls seem to have settled in fine”.

Watford Ladies Team: Davey, Wotton, Daniels, Nicholson (Cooper), Kearney-Perry, Adams (Miles), Young, Rowell, Logie, Madden (Gunn), Wiltshire. Subs not used; Crook.